Relief for young nannies across the country

The government’s decision to lift employment restrictions on nannies under 20 years of age is a step forward for job seekers around New Zealand.

Until now, under 20 year old nannies have been unable to work in chartered home based services, leaving many trained nannies out of work. Families wanting to take on an “under age” nanny have been denied access to government subsidies and many have been forced to opt for a nanny over 20.

Stacey Chinnery from Halswell in Christchurch said the news was a relief and just “awesome”.

Stacey, a single mother, is currently training through PORSE to gain her Nanny qualification. She has spent the last months unsure what to do when the course finished as she had thought the age was going to be lifted but then was told the age was to stay at 20.

“I was getting really worried, I have four weeks of the course to go and didn’t know what I was going to do,” she said.

“There are jobs out there for me when I finish the course and now I can apply for them – it is so exciting,” Stacey said.

New Zealand’s leading provider of in-home childcare and training PORSE is applauding the Government’s decision to allow nannies under the age of 20 to work.

PORSE managing director Jenny Yule has been lobbying government since 1997 in a bid to get the restrictions lifted.

“We’ve seen a huge increase in demand for in-home care for children, but with the restrictions on nannies it has been hard to find enough staff,” Ms Yule said.

Ms Yule said she knew of many qualified and caring nannies throughout the country who would be relieved to hear their immediate job future was more secure.